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Washington Spirit 3, Angel City FC 4: Monumental win at the death for Los Angeles

Historic goals, sisters connecting and three points for Los Angeles
Trebor TracyBy 7 Mins Read
Alyssa and Gisele Thompson connect to make history as Gisele scores first NWSL goal. Photo courtesy of Angel City FC

We talk about it all the time. The importance of taking points off opponents when on the road. Even a draw, while sometimes disappointing, is a massive success when you’re the road team. But as we all agree with, getting wins are oh so much better and vastly more fun. That was further proven this past Friday when Angel City FC took to the pitch to take on Washington Spirit in DC, and not only came away with the win, but did so in the most chaotic, dramatic, historic, wild fashion possible. In other words, just your typical NWSL After Dark experience.

Let’s get right into this seven goal thriller, starting with the first goal, scored by Angel City FC, as they did something that had never been done before. Some great passing from Alyssa Thompson opened up the attack for MA Vignola, who took on attackers as she powered her way towards goal, only to lay it off for one of her teammates. Waiting in front of goal was rookie sensation Riley Tiernan, who needed just one touch to get the ball into the back of the net in the seventh minute of the match. The goal marked the fourth for Tiernan this season, and also made history, making Angel City the first NWSL club to score a goal in the first 15 minutes of a match, for four straight matches.

Angel City was in attack mode early, just like they were against Orlando, and just like that match, they were able to add a second fairly quickly after the first. If you’re like us, you’ve undoubtedly not only seen that goal by now, but have watched it close to one hundred times. Another historic moment and one that everyone in Los Angeles had been waiting for since the team signed the younger Thompson sister. In the 22nd minute of the match, Alyssa Thompson was attacking down the flank, as she does, looked up for a teammate and found a familiar one in defender and sister, Gisele Thompson. The younger of the two leaped up, got a boot on the cross, and flicked it in for the goal. For the first time in NWSL history, two sisters combined for a goal, a truly magical moment that you can clearly see really meant a lot to the duo.

It was another two goal lead early for Angel City, and while the celebrations were at an all-time high considering how both goals occurred, there was still that sense of, hold on this time please. Washington didn’t wait to induce stress to LA fans, just eight minutes after Thomspon scored, the Spirit showed their own grit as Esme Morgan got her first NWSL goal with a one-touch finish on the pass into the box that got past the ACFC defender.

Washington didn’t wait long to find the equalizer either. In the 40th minute, Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson came out of her box to put on a great stop as the Spirit had a pretty open run at her goal. Unfortunately, her clearance only went as far as a Spirit player, who sent the ball right back into the box for a lurking Gift Monday, who saw nothing but an empty net, and tapped it home to bring her side level before halftime.

Bad news, Angel City had once again let a two goal lead slip from their fingers. The good news, they had an entire second half to make it right and come away with a win, and while there were fewer goals in the second half, there was a lot more chaos in store for both sides. It took a bit, but it was Angel City to strike first in the 70th minute. It was an excellent attack, as LA methodically and slowly broke down the Spirit defense with precise passing ending with Katie Zelem taking on defenders before unleashing a stunner to give LA the lead again.

As time wound down, it looked like Angel City might have done enough to win it, but Spirit weren’t done yet. As time ran out on regulation in the 90th minute, chaos ensued as a sequence of poor clearances, the ball bouncing around the box, and defenders in a bit of a manic panic, the ball eventually found Esme Morgan who was able to slot it in just past Anderson for the equalizer. It looked as if Spirit had salvaged their point at home.

HOWEVER, rookie sensation Riley Tiernan was not about to let the team walk out feeling like they let one get away. As time ran out on the five additional minutes of stoppage time, Angel City earned a corner and put together an incredible set piece play. Christen Press who came into the match as a sub, was waiting near post, and when the ball was sent in to her, she flicked it with her head towards goal, hoping it would find a teammate amidst the chaos. It found Riley Tiernan who used that powerful right leg to smash the ball into the top of the net, giving her a fifth goal on the season, as well as the match winner for Angel City.

That match was as crazy to watch, as it was to read, no doubt. Seven total goals, four for Angel City, a brace for Riley Tiernan and a sister, sister connection for Gisele’s  first NWSL goal provided to her by older sis. Oh, and a very important three points to take back to Los Angeles as the team snap the two match losing skid, as they look to start another unbeaten run. What was most impressive was how the team didn’t quit. One of those wins that can have an adrenaline shot-like affect on the squad going forward, and that is what this team hopes. Now, they get to come back home and prepare for Mother’s Day weekend madness as they are set to host Utah Royals this Friday night.

Thoughts on the win? Leave a comment below!

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